Senator Pfaff and Rep Billings Introduce Legislation to Improve the Affordability of College

LA CROSSE, WI – Today, Senator Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) and Representative Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) held a press conference on UW-La Crosse’s campus discussing their legislation to improve college affordability for incoming, current, and former students.

Senator Pfaff released the following statement:

“Wisconsin, like every other state, is experiencing a labor shortage, but we know that Wisconsin students who attend a Wisconsin school are likely to stay and work in Wisconsin upon graduation. I am proud to introduce legislation to make higher education a bit more attainable for working families and students.”

“Our proposals level the playing field for students who cannot save for college upfront and also provide ‘last-dollar’ grants to students from middle-class families. By making college both more affordable and easing the burden of student loan debt, we’re helping Wisconsin build the workforce it needs to remain competitive.”

Representative Billings released the following statement:

“In today’s economy, it is challenging for middle-class families to access Wisconsin’s universities and technical colleges. A high-quality education can open countless doors for young people, but for too many Wisconsinites, a college education is out of reach because of the cost. The Wisconsin Tuition Promise and the College Savings Fairness Act will offer a helping hand to families struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living. By providing financial relief for families, we can help students access the many opportunities a college education can provide.

By providing an affordable education for Wisconsinites, we are investing in the future of our workforce and our economy. Schools like UW-La Crosse change lives and make our communities stronger, and we are working to ensure that students’ dreams are not limited by their finances. Wisconsin’s students will soon be Wisconsin’s leaders, and when we provide them with the resources they need to thrive, they make our state better for everyone.”

Two of the bills Senator Pfaff and Representative Billings authored are explained below:

• LRB 4919: The “Wisconsin Tuition Promise” is a commitment to Wisconsin’s middle-class families to keep the state’s public universities accessible and affordable. Providing last-dollar, gap funding after all federal grants and scholarships are calculated, the Wisconsin Tuition Promise helps students with a household adjusted gross income of $71,000 or less attend a UW school (other than UW-Madison, which currently funds its own program, “Bucky’s Tuition Promise”).

• LRB 1242: “The College Savings Fairness Act” (CSFA) seeks to level the playing field for all Wisconsin college students, whether their families can afford to save for higher education or the student takes out loans to pay for the cost of college. Similar to the tax deduction provided for contributions to an Edvest 529 account, the CFSA would create a new individual income tax deduction for both principal and interest paid on qualified education loans.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.